Oft Asked Questions on Voting by Postal service

Washington votes past mail every election.

If you are registered to vote in Washington, there is no demand to request a election. Ostend your registration at VoteWA.gov.

Voting past mail is convenient and gives you time to learn about the ballot measures and candidates before casting your vote. Return your ballot past official drib box or by post, no stamp needed. Your election must be deposited or postmarked by Election Twenty-four hours. If mailed, the USPS recommends that y'all mail a week before Ballot Twenty-four hours.

All counties conduct vote-by-mail elections. All vote-by-postal service ballots (also known as absentee) are kept in secure storage while non being processed. Processing includes the verification of signatures and postmarks, removing the inner envelope from the outer envelope and removing the ballot from the inner envelope. Ballots are secured with numbered seals and a log is kept of the seal numbers to detect any inappropriate access. Votes cast are tabulated later viii p.chiliad. PST on Election Day. Results are neither known nor reported before 8 p.thousand.

Washington State Vote-By-Mail service Fact Sheet

Path of a ballot, Vote-By-Postal service in Washington Country

COVID-xix update: Voting past mail is safe and does not nowadays a risk of spreading the virus. For in-person services, each canton may have restrictions. You should contact your county elections role to determine what arrangements can be fabricated for in person voting.

When are ballots mailed?

Your ballot is mailed at to the lowest degree 18 days before each election. Your packet volition include a ballot, a secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve for your voted ballot, and a return envelope with pre-paid postage. If you lot are a registered voter and practise not receive your election, contact your county elections section.

How can I learn more than about the measures and/or candidates that announced on my ballot?

Washington has many ways to aid voters go informed:

  • The country General Ballot Voters' Pamphlet is mailed to every household in Washington.
  • For a personalized voters' guide, sign in to VoteWA.gov. For best results, apply a mobile device or Chrome as your browser.
  • Accessible versions, including PDFs, audio files, and a text simply format, are available online. Phone call (800) 448-4881 or email [email protected] if you are unable to easily locate the accessible version.

Other sources of information most candidates and problems include local newspapers, television, libraries, political parties, and campaigns.

When is the latest I can turn in my completed ballot?

Your ballot must either exist postmarked no later than Election Twenty-four hour period or returned to a ballot drop box by viii p.m. on Election Solar day. If mailing your ballot within a calendar week of Ballot Twenty-four hours, be mindful of mailbox collection times or employ an official ballot drib box. A belatedly postmark could disqualify your ballot.

Did you lot sign the return envelope?Your county elections department reviews your signature and compares it to your voter registration records. They will contact you lot if there's a problem with your signature. If you are unable to sign the declaration, make a mark in front end of 2 witnesses and have them sign in the designated spaces.

To check the status of your voted ballot, sign in to VoteWA.gov and click "Ballot Status." Please allow three-v business days for your ballot to be posted equally received.

Can I vote in-person?

Each county opens an accessible voting center prior to each principal, special election, and general election. Each voting centre is open up during business hours during the voting menstruation, which begins 18 days before, and ends at viii:00 p.m. on the mean solar day of, the master, special ballot, or general election. You can locate your nearest voting center past logging into VoteWA.gov or contacting your county's elections department.

COVID-19 update: Voting past mail is safety and does not present a risk of spreading the virus. For in-person services, each county may have restrictions. Y'all should contact your canton elections role to determine what arrangements can be made for in person voting.

If I'm on vacation or take moved, volition my ballot be forwarded?

Some counties may permit ballots to be forwarded. Nevertheless, the best thing to do is contact your county elections department and ask for a temporary change in your mailing address. You should also contact the county elections department when y'all return to the address where yous are registered to vote, or if you lot have permanently moved.

What is a Federal Write-In Absentee Election?

Military personnel and U.S. citizens overseas may use a Federal Write-in Absentee Election available through Voting Assistance Offices at military installations or at U.Southward. Embassies and Consulates. Washington State law allows all eligible ballot contests to be voted on this ballot.

How practice I obtain a replacement ballot?

But ask! Contact your local county elections department when you have destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received the original election. Remember, your county may merely accept one ballot and will verify your signature. Alternatively, you lot can obtain a replacement ballot delivered online by logging into VoteWA.gov.

What is a provisional ballot, and why would I need one?

Washington provides in person aforementioned-24-hour interval registration services at county elections offices and provisional ballots are not common. A conditional ballot is a election issued to a person seeking to vote who might otherwise be denied the opportunity to vote a regular ballot. Provisional ballots are researched to confirm the voter's registration before the ballot is counted.

How practice I correct my ballot?

Follow the instructions on your election for how to right a fault.

What happens if I vote for more i candidate?

When more votes for an office or result are selected than are permitted by police, the votes will be considered an over vote and no votes will exist recorded for that office or result. In this case, the remainder of your ballot that is valid volition be counted. You may only vote for one candidate in most instances. In rare instances, when you lot may vote for more than than ane candidate, information technology will be clearly indicated on the ballot.

Will my ballot count if I choose non to vote on certain issues or candidates?

Yes, it will. You can choose to skip any measures or offices you don't wish to vote in. All the votes y'all cast will be counted.

Will my vote count if I forgot to seal my ballot in the security envelope?

Yeah, it will. Your elections section will deeply process your ballot if your security envelope is unsealed.

How does the elections department procedure my vote past mail service (absentee) ballot securely?

Information technology is essential to the integrity of an ballot that ballot processing be accurate and transparent, while maintaining your right to a secret ballot. After you return your voted ballot, your canton elections section follows this ballot counting process:

  1. Your signature on the outer return envelope is checked confronting the signature on file in your voter registration record to make sure they friction match.
  2. You are credited for voting in that ballot. This ensures that just one ballot from each voter is counted.
  3. The outer render envelope, which identifies you, is then separated from the inner security envelope, which contains your voted ballot. Your election cannot exist traced dorsum to you, ensuring the secrecy of your vote.
  4. All ballots are inspected to brand sure the tabulating machine will be able to read all votes. Tabulation equipment is tested before every election to make certain it is working accurately.

The above steps continue with all ballots until the election is certified.

Elections are certified ten days afterwards Special Elections, 14 days later Primaries and 21 days later General Elections. Preliminary election results are released on ballot night afterwards 8 p.m. and are updated equally additional ballots are counted.

You are welcome to notice ballot processing. Contact your county elections section for more data.